It was clear to anyone in Seabrook there was a problem. There were obvious warning signs, including strong smells. It seems that we can't trust the industry to take immediate action when citizens may be in harm’s way. The residents of Seabrook as well as the entire city of Houston deserve immediate notice when the air or water is polluted beyond the legal limits.

TCEQ said it was a communications problem. That is unacceptable, especially given the frequency of major releases of hazardous air pollution in the Houston area. We need state leaders to demand more from TCEQ, starting with detailed action plans that set acceptable limits for benzene and updated public notification procedures.

Dylan Dement, Seabrook

Sacrifice in Korea

Regarding “On Memorial Day, who will recall sacrifice?” (Opinion, Monday): The op-ed was well done. However, I have not found anything about the forgotten war — Korea. The United States lost thousands of men and women during that conflict, yet it fails to garner even a mention.

Please honor all who have died for our protection and freedom and not just the select few!

Robert L. Deutsch, Houston

Peace by flexing muscles

Regarding “On Memorial Day, who will recall sacrifice?” (Opinion, Monday): The authors, Tom Palaima and Al Martinich, believe that “many Americans have died in wars begun and perpetuated for no good reason.” I could not agree more.

Unfortunately, though, they criticize President Trump for his ominous tweet to Iran, asking, “Would we want our own sons and daughters to die…in such a war?” They are missing the obvious point of sending the USS Abraham Lincoln and its awesome support fleet into the Persian Gulf.

Deterrence. That is the point. War deterred is success. War won, for those who have to needlessly fight and die for it, is failure.

Had George H.W. Bush sent a fleet into the Persian Gulf in July 1989, Saddam Hussein would have been persuaded not to invade Kuwait. The first Gulf War thus could have been avoided. Had the first Gulf War been avoided, the second would have never occurred.

Two unnecessary wars indeed.

Sam Longoria, Houston

Allegedly a cover up

Regarding “Madame Speaker, it’s time for us to help — and save — ourselves” (Outlook, Sunday): Leonard Pitts’ column is just another rant that we should immediately impeach President Trump. Pitts provides no facts to support his claim for impeachment; he just says Trump is guilty of a ‘‘cover up.” He doesn’t even use “alleged” for his complaints.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi knows there’s no basis for impeachment, otherwise she would be first in line demanding it. Pitts just can’t get over the fact that the American people preferred Trump over Hillary.